Now about Bratislava

Well, I've been in Bratislava for a few days now. I have to say that they are woefully lacking in tourist support here. Or maybe I'm woefully lacking in being a tourist??? I've found no local tours except for several walking tours of the city, and they cover the same ground. There is one mini-bus tour that I may try tomorrow, but I think it again covers the same ground. The Danube river cruises have all shut down for the winter. Two tourist offices have nothing to offer but the aforementioned walking tours. I took things into my own hands today. More on that later.

I have kept myself pretty busy just looking at things in the Old Town part of Bratislava. It has only been Bratislava since 1919. Before then, it had several names, depending on who was in control. Some of the old buildings are really something to look at. I still believe Prague is the best representation of what old Europe once looked like. I think if the cars were gone, one would think they were in the 19Th century there. But then, the cell phones coming out of people's ears might give it away.

Back to Bratislava. While wandering the city, I found the Opera house, and booked myself a ticket, if you can believe that!!! The first one I could get a ticket for is Mozart's Don Giovanni, tomorrow nite. We'll see how culture affects me. Guess being in his birthplace, Salzburg, had an influence on me.

Next door to one of the ineffectual Tourist Centers, I found there was a jazz concert on Tuesday evening, so I went. I really enjoyed it. The banjo player looked like Miles, with a haircut, for those from BVS. At the intermission, I told the leader that the group reminded me of the Preservation Hall Jazz band. He took offense, said they were nothing like them, that they only did 20's music. Still sounded like PHJB tome, so there.

Yesterday I did a bit more walking around. I found the American Embassy, and thought it would be interesting to set foot on American soil in Europe. Didn't happen. They are only open to Americans from14:00 to 15:30 in the PM, and I was too early. So the Slovak guards (where are the Embassy Marines I expected?) told me to come back. They really chastised me for taking a photo. That's not allowed!!!

Then I went to the Bratislava castle. This one is both a Shloss and a Burg, based on my definitions in my last e-mail. Spent about three hours there, until they 86'd me at closing time. Lots to see. Most interesting were the exhibition of 18Th and 19Th century clocks, and the history of weapons and arms. The later wasn't just swords, lances guns and such, but described the evolution of the weapons and armor from the middle ages on.

Meals have been pretty good. The dumplings here, though just aren't what mother used to make. Had some the other nite that could pass as gnocchi, and some that could pass as sliced bread. The one I had for lunch in Rust was the best. If they were all like that, they'd come close to mother's.

By the way, in my last e-mail, I didn't give credit to Johann, Rolf's father. He was with Pamela, Rolf and I on Saturday and acted as our guide. He should do it for a living. He was also my host at the museum I went to in Neutal.

So on to today. Since I couldn't get any tour companies to take me anywhere, I took matters into my own hands. Went to the bus station and looked for a town that was close enough to get to, spend time in, and return in one day. The answer was Trencin. About 2.5 hours from here, if there wasn't road work, which there was. But I made it. With the delay on the bus, and the fine, extended lunch I had in the finest restaurant in Trencin, I didn't have time to visit the local castle, but I did get some great photos, I think. Nice little town, one I wouldn't mind spending a few days in. The old town is quite large, no autos, stone paving, very pleasant. The trip back took less time, as it was apparently the express bus. The morning bus stopped at a number of little towns. Great scenery, lots of farmland, then rolling hills, and almost what could be called foothills to a mountain range. With trees beginningto change color and loose leaves. Guess you pay the price for the scenic tour. Cost 1/3 more than the return trip.

Fashion note. Ladies, if Eastern Europe is a precursor for fashion trends, you'll all be dying your hair shades of red approaching fuchsia soon, and wearing shoes with tips so pointed they'll extend beyond your toes by 1 to 2 inches.

The bad news is that when I got back, I called to find out how Stefan had made out in his surgery. It turns out he had a heart attack on Tuesday, I believe, and they can't operate until he becomes much more stable. Rudi and Traude are going to be with him tomorrow. I'll probably know more when I call them again on Saturday or Sunday. I should be in Budapest by them.

Time to close for now. I wasn't able to post the last e-mail to the blog. The Blogger come up in Slovak, and I can't seem to hit the right buttons to make itwork. I'll try again tonite, but don't anticipate a lot of success. But then, who knows???

And my apologies if soem words run together. I did get this to the Blog. Remains to be seen if it posts OK. When I paste it into the Blog, sometimes it looses the space between words, so I manually edited it. Hope I got them all.

Here goes nothing.